James Blake toppled top-seeded Australian Lleyton Hewitt 7-5, 2-6, 6 3 here on Sunday to win this 380,000-dollar ATP Tournament. The fifth-seeded American claimed the fifth title of his career and second of 2006, beating the former world number one for the first time in seven career meetings.
The victory also marked Blake'first win over a top-10 player in a final.
"I played him a whole bunch of times in the past. This is the first time I've come out on top and I'm pretty happy," said Blake, who will move up seven places to a career-high number 14 when the ATP rankings are released Monday.
"I finally got a win against one of the greatest players of all-time. He's gotten me in so many close ones, he's beaten me up so many times, it's nice to know I can get one win against him.
"It's something I can take away," Blake added. "He's one of the best players ever and a sure-fire Hall of Famer. I can say I beat someone that talented and that great of a competitor." Hewitt himself was looking to end a near 14-month ATP singles title drought.
Instead, the former Wimbledon and US Open champion dropped his for the fourth consecutive final and second straight in 2006 following a championship loss to Scottish teenager Andy Murray a few weeks ago in San Jose.
"It's never nice to lose in finals, but you have to be hitting the ball well to make it through to the championship match," said Hewitt, who will move up one spot to tie American icon Andre Agassi at ninth in the world rankings.
"There's a lot of positives to come out of the last two weeks going into two big tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami."
After they split the first two sets, Blake turned up his game in the third, slamming 20 of his 39 winners past Hewitt.
He went ahead 2-1 after three consecutive service breaks to open the decisive third set when Hewitt lifted a backhand over the baseline. In the next game, Blake erased a break point, then broke for the third time to extend the lead to 4-1.
Blake erased another break point in the sixth game to go up 5-1, but the famously competitive Hewitt broke at 5-2 to keep the match alive. Blake gave himself a match point with a forehand passing winner, but Hewitt again held firm.
The American gave himself another opportunity with a forehand winner, and claimed theitle when Hewitt dumped a forehand into the net.
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